The harshest comments, however, came from within the family.
“One relative didn’t sugarcoat it at all,” Ronni said. “She said she hated it and called it an ‘abomination.’ She still refuses to use his full name.”
Others felt very differently. “My dad loved it instantly,” Ronni added. “He said it was bold and original.”
Online criticism escalates
The debate intensified after Ronni mentioned the name in a parenting group, where commenters warned the child would face bullying or future disadvantages.
Ronni, who is also mom to Lola, 8, Lincoln, 5, and Lilac, 4, pushed back strongly against those claims.
“If a child wants to bully, they’ll always find something,” she said. “I raise my kids to be confident, resilient, and kind. I’m not worried his name will define his future.”
She also dismissed claims that the name couldn’t be legally registered. “People told me it would be rejected outright, which simply wasn’t true,” she said. “Others made extreme assumptions about his personality. That kind of thinking doesn’t make sense.”
The baby also has a more traditional middle name, Ashley, which Ronni notes he can choose to use later if he wants.
Support behind the scenes
Despite the loud criticism, Ronni says many parents privately admitted they admired the choice.
“Several mums told me they loved it but were too afraid to use it themselves,” she said. “Even the midwives encouraged us not to change it and said it was memorable.”
For Ronni and Brad, the positive feedback outweighs the negative. “It’s unusual, but it’s strong. And most importantly, we love it.”
A name with a long history
The name’s controversy largely comes from its association with religious tradition. However, its original Latin meaning is “light-bearer” or “morning star,” a detail Ronni says is often overlooked.
While the name has been banned or restricted in countries like New Zealand, Germany, and Iceland, registering it in the U.K. was straightforward.
“There were no gasps or judgment,” Ronni said. “The registrar just confirmed the spelling and moved on.”
Not an isolated case
This isn’t the first time parents have faced pushback over the same name. In 2020, a couple in Derbyshire reported resistance from a registrar when naming their son, including warnings about potential future challenges.
Despite that history, Ronni remains confident.
“We’re aware of the associations,” she said. “But we’re not religious, and our son is happy, cheeky, and loved.”
After years of defending their choice, Ronni says she has no regrets about naming her child after the main character from the Netflix series Lucifer.
“To us,” she said, “it’s just a name—and it doesn’t carry anything negative.”